Crossing signal



Ffibl 18, 1930. PETERS 1,747,881

CROSSING SIGNAL 1 i I S? I Feb. 1 8, 1930. E, PETERS 1,747,881

CROSSING SIGNAL Filed ne 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

Patented Feb. 18, 1930 1 ra n;

CROSSING- SIGNAL Application filed June 11,

' This-invention relates to a crossing signal apparatus and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a 5 signal adapted to be used at a railway crossing and which is operated by a locomotive or train moving upon the track, to show a Stop sign when the locomotive is approaching the crossing, and, to showa Go sign when the 1 locomotive has passed the crossing, or when there is no train approaching the crossing and about to pass the crossing. The stop signal is displayed at the crossing when a train is approaching the crossing and the go signal is l displayed at the crossing when there is no train approaching the crossing.' The traffic moving upon the highway which intersects the railway track at the crossing may travel in safety over the crossing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved signal-stand or post for use at the crossing and which is adapted to display stop and go signals at proper times. t 5 A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient lever stand adapted to be placed at the side of the track at apoint suitably remote from the crossing and which is operated by a bar attached to the 3 pilot of the locomotive or upon the frame of any other vehicle moving upon the track. The lever of the stand is connected with the signal and is adapted to'operate the same as indicated.

With these and other objects in view, the apparatus includes the novel features hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the crossing signal apparatus.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view ofthe signal post of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the post with parts thereof shown in section.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of 50 the post.

side elevational 1929. Serial No. 370,103.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a lever stand used in the apparatus.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view the lever stand. a

In the drawing illustrating the application and arrangement of the parts of the crossing signal apparatus, a highway is shown at 1 and a railway track at 2. The track and highway intersect each other at 3 and this pointis referred to as the crossing. Signal posts 4 are located at diagonally opposite corners of the crossing and are positioned at pointsbeyond the outer sides or edges of the track'and the highway. Each post is provided with a signal operating bar 5. At suitable points distant from the crossing 3 and at the outer sides of the rails ofthe track 2, lever stands 6 and 7, and 6 and 7 are located. The stands 6 and 7 are at one side of the track and the stands 6 and 7 are located at the opposite side of the track as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. Each of the said stands is provided with a pivoted lever 8. Thestands 7 and'7 have pulleys 9 journaled-thereon but stands 8 and 8 are not provided withpulleys. With this exception the stands are alike in structure. The upper ends of the levers lie in the path of movement of a tripbar 10 mounted upon the pilot of a locomotive which travels upon the track and as indicated in Figure 1. o. Such a trip bar may, be mounted upon any other part of a train of cars. f

Pulleys 11 and 12 are ournaled at one side of the'track and one is located beyond each edge of the highway 1. Pulleys 13 and 14 are j ournaled at the opposite-side of the track, one being located beyond each edge of the highway 1. The pulleys 11 and 14; are located beyond the outer side of one signal post 4 and the pulleys 12 and 13 are located beyond the outer side of the other post 4 so that both posts are situated between the adjacent pulleys andthe edges of the highway 1.

A loop 15 of wire, cable, chain or other suitable material is trained about the pulleys 11, 12, 13 and 14. One of the side runs of the loop 15 is connected with the outer end of the bar 5 of one of the posts at 16and the other side run of the loop 15 isconnected with the inner end of the bar 5 of the other post 4at 17 The end runs of the loop pass transversely under the rails of the track 2. A cable 18 connects the adjacent end run of the loop with the lower end of the lever 8 of the stand 6. A cable 19 connects the loop 15 with the lower end of the lever 8 of the stand 7 and is trained around the pulley 9 journaled upon said stand. The parts are so arranged that when the loop is moved (in an orbital path) around the pulleys the upper ends of the said levers simultaneously swing in the same direction.

In a similar manner a loop 20 is trained about pulleys 21, 22, 23 and 24 and is connected with the bars of the signal posts and the levers 8 of the stands 6 and 7. The adjacent side runs of the two loops are connected with the bars 5 at the opposite ends thereof so that all of the said bars and both of the loops are moved when any one of the loops is moved. The arrangement is such that when the upper end of the lever 8 upon the stand 6 is swung in one direction the corresponding end of the lever 8 of the stand 7 swings. in an opposite direction and viceversa.

The signal stand of the apparatus includes a tubular casing post 25 provided at its sides with openings 26. Pedestal members 27 are attached to the lower end of the casing post and may be mounted upon the projecting end portions of the ties of the railway track. A

sign post or shaft 28 is turnably mounted for partial rotation in the casing post 25 and one end thereof is reduced diametrically as at 29 and said reduced end lies between the pedestal members 27. The bar 5 passes through the portion 29. Stop and go signs 30 are provided upon the post 28 and may be brought to view at different times through the openings 26 so that the operators of traffic moving over the highway may see the said signs as they are displayed through the openings.

The ends of the casing post are closed by closures 31 and 32 and the reduced portion 29 of the post 28 passes through the closure 32. p

The lever stands of the apparatus include inverted U-shaped frames adapted to be mounted upon the ties of the track. The upper ends of the levers 8 of said stands project above the plane of the upper surfaces of the heads of the track rails and may be engaged by the bar carried by the car moving upon the track as hereinbefore described.

Assuming that the parts are in the positions as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing and a locomotive is approaching the crossing at the left as indicated in the dotted lines, at this time the word Go is visible through both openings 26 of the casing posts 25 to the trailic upon the highway.

'When the bar 10 strikes the lever 8 of the stand 6 the said lever is swung whereby the cable 18 is moved longitudinally and the side runs of the loop 15 are moved toward the stand 6. In that the side runs of the loop 15 are attached to one end of both bars 5 the said bars are swung and both posts 28 are turned in the casings 25 so that the word Stop is brought to view through the openlngs.

Inasmuch as the bars 5 lie in the spaces between the pedestal members 27 the said pedestal members serve as stops and limit the turning movement of the posts 28 so that the said words are brought into proper register with the said openings.

The movement of the loop 15 through the cable 19 swings the'lever '8 of the stand 7 in a direction toward the crossing and the approaching locomotive. When the locomotive has passed over the crossing the bar 10 strikes the lever 8 of the stand? and the parts are returned to the positions as shown in Figure 1. i

Those ends of the bars 5 opposite the ends thereof to which the side runs of the loop 15 are attached are connected with the side runs of the loop 20 and consequently the signal apparatus will be operated in the same manner as described, by a locomotive approaching the crossing at the right thereof.

The side runs of the loops 15 and 20 are normally disposed in straight lines as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The bars 5 swing, or turn upon axes which are located between the said side runs of the loops. Therefore when the loops are moved and the bars swing upon their axes the said side runs of the loops are distorted by the bars from straight lines into lines having angularly disposed end portions. This distortion continues to exist so long as the bars and the loops are moving and when the bars and the loops come to a state of rest the said side runs of the loops assume the straight lines as shown. This distortion of the loops when in motion, takes up any slack which might occur and holds the signals in proper register with the openings of the posts.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A signal for a highway crossing a track comprising a casing post placed adjacent the point of intersection and having an opening, spaced pedestal members supporting the easing post, a shaft post rotatively housed in the casing post and having spaced direction legends adapted to be brought into register with the opening in the casing post at different times, a cross bar attached to the lower end of the shaft post and extending through the space between the pedestal members and means attached to the cross bar and extending along the track and adapted to be operated by a vehicle moving thereon.

2. A signal for a highway crossing a track comprising signal members rotatively mounted adjacent the point of intersection of the highway and thetrack and at opposite sides thereof, loop members movably mounted and completely surrounding the point of intersection and connected with the signal members at opposite sides thereof whereby the loop members are distorted in opposite directions when the signal member is turned and operating means connected with the loop members and disposed along the track.

3. A signal for a highway crossing a track comprising a signal member rotatively mounted adjacent the point of intersection of the highway and the track, aloop member movably mounted and completely surrounding the point of intersection and connected with the signal member whereby the loop member is distorted when the signal member is turned and operating means connected with the loop member and disposed along the track.

4. In a crossing signal, a casing post having an opening, spaced members for supporting the casing post, a signal member rotative- 1y mounted in the casing post and a bar carried by the signal post and disposed through the space between the supporting members, whereby said members also serve as stops for limiting the swinging movement of the bar.

1 EDWARD PETERS. 

